Oak Park Village Hall Goes Tobacco Free

Source: The Village of Oak Park

The Village of Oak Park has become the first municipality in the state to go tobacco-free after implementing new policies prohibiting the use of tobacco products on all Village-owned properties.

Oak Park achieved the designation from the Illinois Department of Public Health and is only the second government organization to do so in the state.

The initiative codifies the Village’s intention to provide a healthy environment for employees, customers and visitors to its many facilities and properties in Oak Park.

Tobacco use - including smoking, chewing tobacco and using electronic cigarettes or vaporizers - is prohibited on all Village properties. This includes Village Hall, Public Works Center, police stations, fire stations and municipal parking garages.

The new policy pre-empts the traditional clause that prohibits smoking within 15 feet of a building entrance. Signs have been posted on all Village properties reflecting the new policy.

“This policy reflects a commitment at all levels of Village government to improve the health of residents and visitors,” said Interim Health Director Lisa Shelley.

The new policy went into effect this summer, following a recommendation from the Board of Health and subsequent approval by the Village Board. Funding was provided by a grant from the Illinois Tobacco-Free Communities program. As a Village ordinance, the tobacco-free policy is now part of official Village Code.

Enforcement will begin in October and will focus primarily on education and connecting tobacco users with smoking cessation resources.

For more information about the Health Department, call 708.358.5480, email health@oak-park.us or visit oak-park.us/health.